Stadium turns into battlefield

KATHMANDU, April 28: The Dasharath Stadium once again turned into a battlefield during the match between Three Star Club and Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC).

Coach Bal Gopal Maharjan and midfielder Castory D Mumbara of Three Star were subjected to a manhandle attempt by MMC officials while a supporter of MMC got a thrashing in the parapet from Three Star supporters after the match became tense in the 80th minute.

The match was interrupted for about 10 minutes following the incident. This is the fourth time a match has been interrupted during the ongoing league football.

The match became tense after Mumbara caught Ganesh Khadka of MMC by his neck. Khadka was alleged to have stepped on fallen Mumbara´s hand. Before that, Satish Bhandari of MMC had played a foul on Mumbara near the box line. Mumbara and Niraj Remi Magar of MMC were shown yellow cards.

Thenceforth, angry MMC officials disturbed the match, expressing dissatisfaction with the referee´s decision to show only a yellow card to Mumbara.

An unidentified person from the MMC technical box attempted to assault coach Maharjan following Mumbara´s offense against Khadka.

At the same moment, a group of Three Star fans thrashed a young MMC fan accusing him of throwing a bottle at Mumbara. Meanwhile, one of the ANFA volunteers opened his volunteer beaf and joined in to thrash the MMC fan.

MMC coach Chhiring Lopsang said that the mismanagement of All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) and the negligence of referees were the main cause of dispute in the match. He also slammed the security arrangements for the league.

Three Star coach Bal Gopal Maharjan also said the weak security arrangements were the greatest drawback of the league.

“The players became the target of the angry spectators while leaving for the changing room at the end of the match and the organizing body does not seem to be serious,” he said, also questioning the presence of many people in the technical line, including unnecessary ANFA officials.